This rose has long red canes, few thorns, is semidouble and reblooms lightly through the summer. It is a dark purply red with white stripes. I'd say that it is probably between 30 and 50 years old. Here's the bloom

stem and leaves and prickles

leaves etc.

Lovely! I hope the experts can give it a name.

Kathleen, that looks so very familiar to me, from my own garden, but I'm going to have do some thinking. They don't just pop off the tip of my tongue like they use to. The sad part is, I've downsized by about 100 roses. You would think that would help!!! =)

alan

I think you rose is: Veilchenblau. I don't think I've ever noticed any thorns on mine, but there may be one or two. The canes are very red as well.

http://www.helpmefind.com/rose...

This rose can look pink at times too. Is yours repeat bloom, or once blooming? How big are the blooms. I have another in my thoughts that it could be too.

http://www.helpmefind.com/rose...

Alan

I doubt that it's Veilchenblau because that one always blooms in big clusters. I never see an isolated bloom on mine.

Also, Veilchenblau never reblooms at all.

How big are the blooms, Kathleen?

The blooms are relatively small, 2 to 3 inches. I've considered Veilchenblau, but I don't really think that is it. It does rebloom, and it is never as dark as most of the blooms I've seen. I thought at one point that it was William Baffin, but then I saw William Baffin and it is nothing like that.

What about International Herald Tribune?

http://www.helpmefind.com/rose...
http://www.helpmefind.com/rose...

The only problem I see with that one is it's not 30 or 40 years old. More like 25 years old.

The color resembles William Baffin, but your rose's bloom looks more double. My Baffin blooms in clusters and has thorns. I think it is newer than 50 years old as well. Yes, looked it up. Baffin is from 1974. Maybe one of Baffin's parents?

What about kordesii
http://www.helpmefind.com/gard...

First, thank you for the suggestions. I do appreciate it.

The problem with Int. Herald Tribune is that it is a smaller rose. this sends out 6 to 7 foot canes.

kordesii looks good except that it's canes are very green and have many more thorns.

William Baffin is more double than mine - this rose is a puzzler.

And you may never know the answer. Roses just do not stay in commerce very long. They sale them for a couple of years and then they are off to the next years popular colors, fragrances, styles. It's sad really, because so many wonderful roses have came down the pike over the years, but very few have remained in commerce for years, and years, and years. If you have a local rose society that has their own rose beds, especially if their gardens have been around for a few years, you might go look through there gardens, because if you did find it there, I bet you would still find it labeled. You may have already tried that too, but just a thought :)

alan

lol, no local rose societies in this littlle corner.

I've spent the last 16 years running down roses. I don't know how allergic you all are to DG, but here is a link to the article I wrote:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/...
hmm, I still have edit privileges, what do you think they'd say if I added this site to my list of places to go?

Or would you all rather I didn't.

In my experience they will merely edit it out.

Ha! They have taken away my ability to edit my own articles! I wouldn't sign the contract that asked for bits of my soul as well as all my notes, photos and research.

A great reason to leave the list for good. I'm so sorry to hear that Kathy :(

alan

Thinking out loud:
It's not Russeliana since it repeats.
It's not Rose-Marie Viaud http://www.helpmefind.com/rose...
for the same reason.

Perhaps it's Violetta http://www.helpmefind.com/rose...

It looks a little like Mr. Bluebird, although your rose may be taller. ( You don't say how tall yours is.)

Sorry for not having been back here. Haying tends to take up a lot of time even if you're not actually involved in it.

Steve, I had looked at Violetta but mine does repeat reliably.

It does look like Mr. Bluebird, but the canes are all at least 6-7 feet tall. It doesn't act like a climber, more like a tall arching shrub.

The flower shape and color fits both Violetta, especially in the fading to violet, and Mr. Bluebird. Their ages, V. in 1921 and Mr. B in 1960 are both compatible with the roses here, one fits the mother in law, the other our former landlady. So, either I have a VERY tall Mr. B. or a short reblooming Violetta. Hmmm.